Health promoting machine



HEALTH PROMOTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l W/L L /AMJ. NELSON INVENTOR I A TTORNE Y w. J. NELSON 2,004,671

HEALTH PROMOTING MACHINE June 11, 1935.

Filed Nov. 2'7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j Flay- 3 W/LL /AM J- NEL 50M.

IN VENTOR I I I I I I l I BY +3s ATTORNEY Patented June 11, 1935 WilliamJohn Nelson, New jrq kg n. Y,

7 Application November 27, 1933, SerialNOjI zclaims. (c in-24.

The invention relates. to a health, promoting machine, and has for itsgeneral object, the treatment of the different ailments of thejoints,muscles and nerve centers of the limbs of the human body, by means oftwisting exercises, and without physical exertion, on the part of thepatient. 4

An object of my invention is to readjust misplaced bones of the limbs ofthe human body,

1 thereby relieving any undue pressure on the different nerve-centers.

Another object of my invention is to restore.

muscular tonus of the human body and to keep the limb joints active..

Another object of my invention is to secure normal balance andposture'of the human body? by restoring muscle, tendon and ligamentactivity. Another object of my invention to cause circulation of theblood freely through the human system, and to stimulate thenerve'system, byirelleving any undue pressure on the differentnervecenters.

Another object of my invention is to provide an exercising device whichwill simulate the twisting limb movements used in the practice ofkinesitherapy.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my limb readjusting apparatus.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, the section being taken as on line2-2 in Figure 4.

Figure 31s a rear view of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a top view of the apparatus.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral I indicatesmy limb readjusting apparatus comprising a shoe H secured in anysuitable manner to a plate I2. I

The plate 12 has been rotatably mounted on a spindle l3 fixed to thefront wall l4 and preferably extending and secured to the rear wall IS.A drive pin I6 is secured in right angular relation to the plate [2, andextends through a circular slot I! in the front wall I l. The drive pinl6 has been fixed to an arm I8 which is rotatably mounted on the spindleIS. A pin I 9 has been secured in right angular relation with the arm l8andfiniengagement; withone end of a'link- 20. The other end of the link20 has a right angularly extendingpinjZl in engagement with a crank arm2-2;- The crank arm 22; has been fixed to a shaft 23 whichextendsoutfrom a bearing in the rearwall and base. pinion gear 24 fixed there-oon. The pinion gear 2A meshes: with a gear 25 which is rotatably.mountedon a. spindle'26 fixed inthe -rear--wall"=l5.-

.A pulley 21::has, been fastened to the gear, 25 and a belt. 28 has beenmounted on. said pulley and engages a pulley 29 on a motor'30. Rotationof the motor 39 is' transmittedthrough, the'belt 28. tothe gears 25 and24 and through the crank arm 22 to the link and arm l8, and finally-tothe plate [2. The plate I2, ,being rotatably mounted at its .mid.portion, oscillates together with the attached shoe'H toand froin. acircular path, as defined by the circular slot H.1-

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of adjustable straps 3| have beensecured to the shoe ll and serve to secure a foot 32 of a person in theshoe.

in operation, it will cause the foot 32 and thigh 33 strapped to theshoe to oscillate to and fro in a circular path and to simulate thetwisting limb movements used in the practice of kinesitherapy.Repetition of this oscillatory movement causes readjustment orcorrection of misplaced bones of the foot, ankle, knee and hip of thepatients lower limb. It is to be understood that the oscillatorymovements take place in rapid succession and that there is a continualand rapid reversal of the motions of the lower limb from one directionto the opposite direction, and it is these sudden reversals that producetwisting actions in the lower limb and ligaments therein.

A rheostat (not shown) may be used to vary the speed of the motor andthus vary the intensity of the twisting exercises. These twistingexercises comprise twisting, turning and flexing movements whichfunction in keeping the'bones in the lower limb free and the ankle, kneeand. hip joints active and restore muscular tonus and tendon andligament activity.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, it will be noted that there has beenprovided a hand grip 34 comprising an arcuate member 35 fixed to theplate 12 and having a hand bar 36. The patient may grip the hand bar 36and by setting the mechanism in motion at a low rate of speed causeoscillatory movements to be imparted to his arm, similar to theoscillatory movements of the lower limb as heretofore described. Whenthe mechanism is caused to operate at high speed, the intensity of thetwisting movements imparted to the arm may be increased but under suchspeed conditions it is essential that the patient should use a glovehaving a strap (not shown) by means of which the arm may be strappedsecurely to the hand bar 36. Repetition of, these :=,oscillat0rymovements causes readjustment or correction of misplaced bones of thehand, wrist, elbow and,

scapula.

As shown, the plate I2 has an angular lower portion 31 serving as asupport for the shoe I and the foot 32 strapped therein. The shoe "l lmay be riveted to the verticalportion ofthe plate l2 into unitaryrelation with said plate and may; also have its upper rear portionriveted to the said angular extension!" to augment the stability of-thedevice;. t. u 1 .It is to be'noted that by'the term oscillatory is meanta to and fro vibratory or swinging motion in an arcuate path and thatany'curved path defining the motion'of my vibratory member is within thescope of-my invention."

-Itis also to be'notedthat' while I have shown one embodiment ofmechanism whereby the free end of a human limb may'bestrapped toa'member mounted'for oscillatory or arcuate motion and have shown powermeans for actuating said oscillatory member, this mechanism may be takenas representing any suitable means for performing the same function. Y g

I claim: a

11 In an exercising device for causing twisting movements ina humanlimb'while the free and fixed members of saidlimb'are-in alignment, thecombination with ahorizontal spindlehaving a vertical member mounted"thereon intermediate theiends of said member, said member having,

means for gripping the free extremity of a human limb, means foroscillating said vertical member to cause rapid and sudden reversals inthe twisting of said limb, said means comprising a boxlike frame havingspaced front and rear walls, said front wall having a circular slotadjacent the upper end of said vertically mounted gripping member,ardrive pin secured to' said vertical member and extending through saidslot, an arm rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said spindle andhavingits upper endrfixed to said drive 'pin, a pin fixed to thelowerend of said arm and having a link rotatably mounted thereon,;a driveshaft rotatably mounted in said rear wall and having a crank arm fixedthereon and a facing said front wall, the free end of said crankarmbeingmovably connected to one end of said link and means for rotatingsaid drive shaft.

- 2. Inanexercising device for causing twisting movements in a humanlimb while the free and fixed members of said limb are in alignment, thecombination with 'a fixed horizontal spindle having a'v'ertical platemember mounted thereon intermediate the ends of said member, said memberhaving means for gripping the'free extremity. of a human limb, means foroscillating said vertical member tocause rapid and sudden reversals inthe twisting of said limb, said means comprisinga box-likeframe havingspaced front and rear walls; said front wall having a circular slotadjacenti'itsiupper end, a drive pin secured to said vertical platemember and extending through said slot, an arm rotatably 'mountedintermediate its ends on said spindle .and in free engagement therewithand having its upper end fixed to said drive pin, a pinlfixed'to thelowe'rend of said arm and having a linkrrotatably mounted thereon,afdrive shaft rotatablymounted in said rear wall and having a crank armfixed thereon and facing. said front wall, the free end of said crankarmbeing movably connected to'one endv of said link, and meansforrotating said drive shaft.

WILLIAMHJOHNI NELSON.

